Sometimes it is useful to know how many people say "yes" or "no" to a proposal. Other issues are more complicated and a simple "yes or no" question in a survey doesn't do justice to the many factors involved. A citizens' jury is one way to address this.

A citizens' jury brings together a diverse group of between 12 and 25 members of the public, who are usually randomly chosen. They work through an issue, share ideas and eventually come up with a set of recommendations. The participants are helped by experienced facilitators who make sure everyone has a fair say and that the task is achieved.